"As the nation celebrates Martin Luther King Day on Jan. 21, it's a good time to remember how television can play a critical role in challenging and changing public opinion. As the journalist Howard K. Smith said of the television news coverage of the Civil Rights movement in his Archive of American Television interview, “I think even people who were biased on civil rights saw these pictures every night at the dinner hour -- people beating up blacks, siccing dogs onto them -- and they said, ‘This has got to stop! Something must be done.’ I think that television really was a decisive fact. That and the powerful will of Lyndon Johnson to be a success in legislation and the wonderful eloquence of Martin Luther King.”

Not only did TV news bring the country (and the world) face to face with the day-to-day reality of the struggle, but entertainment television also played a subtle, yet important, role. One of my favorite stories in our archive is one that Nichelle Nichols, famous for her role as Chief Communications Officer Nyota Uhura on “Star Trek,” tells of her moving encounter with Dr. King. (See the full 12-minute interview excerpt here ):.....

The 1980s were a special decade. Disco was experiencing its death rattle; Ronald Reagan was the president for almost the entire span; cellphones were as big as bricks; and fashion, oh the fashion was just—tubular.

Since the dawn of time, people have found nifty ways to clean up after the bathroom act. But the idea of a commercial product designed solely to wipe one's bum? That started about 150 years ago, right here in the U.S.A.

Baby onesies at a Target store that label little boys as future superheroes and little girls as their dating partners has sparked online outrage after two University of Waterloo professors called attention to their message.

Lassie’s new owners at DreamWorks Animation are using a series of publicity stunts to remake the classic American dog as a merchandising superstar.

k3hamilton's insight:

"...the studio decided that the best hope for making money from Lassie was to make her a merchandising star, and it turned to a suitably old-fashioned tactic to prepare an onslaught of products next year: the publicity stunt."

...because DreamWorks needs to make money.

( Lassie was part of a $155 million character library acquisition)

Lassie was " a bit of an acting lightweight" says the article

Max Factor apparently made a toupee for one Lassie in the 60s...no secrets are safe!

Last week, we revisited some Cold War propaganda that taught upstanding American citizens How to Spot a Communist Using Literary Criticism. It's a gem, but it has nothing on the 1954 film, The House in the Middle.

2014 was a busy year for logo redesigns, but who actually improved on their old marks? PM Digital put together the infographic below showing 11 major logo revamps from 2014. For each one, PM says whether it loved the new design, liked it, or would have preferred the old one be left alone.

The true meaning behind 35 top brand names, Creating a strong brand identity is an integral aspect of any consumer business, and a large part of any brand identity lies in its name. While many brands are simply named after their founders, others have more interesting origins. | Marketing Magazine

This article talks about 4 brands that have become extremely successful without the use of traditional advertising. These 4 brands are Krispy Kreme, Costco, Sriracha, and GoPro. If you think about it, you never see commercials or ads for these products. They have succeeded solely because they are high quality products that rely on word of mouth to spread awareness

You probably already know the story behind the famous FedEx logo and its clever use of negative space. (If you don't, read this.) But of course, it's hardly the only logo with a "hidden message." British plastic card maker Oomph has collected 40 such logos—check them out below.

The clothing retailer pulled a shirt that appeared to be bloodstained from its online store Monday. It was not the first time the company’s products have courted controversy, but one expert says the uproar is unlikely to hurt the brand.

Remember when you had to wait until the commercial break to be bombarded with brand marketing? Probably not, since product placement has been a Hollywood addiction since the 1980s. Ever since Steven Spielberg featured Reese's Pieces in 1982's E.T.

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